Games, Social Networking and School Policy

[Narom]

Hey Everyone,

I am curious to know what your school's policy or stance is on video games being played and social networks being played accessed on campus.

 

For example, My school allows students to "use their laptop for leisurely activities" during breaks or lunch. The rational is that students need to manage their time and be able to make choices about what they do.

 

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated.

[RobBaxter]

Strictly none of the above.

 

all our children apart from Year 8 are under 13. As such they can't hold their own accounts legally (even though many of them do). As such, Social Media is strictly out and blocked with Smoothwall. Not speaking about the child protection issues. Even with Impero it makes us super uneasy even thinking about social media at school.

 

Games again is a "no". We allow about 5 or 6 sites with flash educational maths games and things like that which are allowed.

 

So call us the oppressive overlords , they don't do anything "Non-School" related.

 

Edit: After reading that (which is what we do) i'm personally not sure if we are actually "Educating" here... but my job is IT not the merits of Education and IT Policy i let the Deputy Headmaster worrie about that

Edited September 30, 2013 by RobBaxter

[Grey-gear]

Hey,

 

Where I work they will not allow games to be played in lessons at all, but a break and dinner students are allowed to play games as long as 1) the game is not too violent and 2) there is none looking to use the computers for work.

 

Sometimes I think it's a bit too much allowing them to uses the computers at lunch (because what's wrong with playing outside) but orders are orders and most students respect the equipment, the problem is I only see the computers that are not looked after.

[speckytecky]

Ours is a KS3 EBD (special Needs for Boys with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties). Mixed feelings here. We had a DT teacher and previous member of SLT here who were very enthusiastic about using games such as Minecraft as learning tools. They have gone and the current policy is no such games nor Social Media.

[broc]

Social networking sites at my school are banned. Computer Games are not considered to be part of the curriculum and as such are blocked, apart from those sites judged by staff to have educational value.

[witch]

Same here. As @RobBaxter, only year 8 are old enough for things like Facebook, anyway. Games banned other than a few the teachers deem suitable.

[unixman_again]

We're a college. Games can't be accessed from the network, but Facebook and Twitter can. From the wireless, Facebook & Twitter are banned, apart from the official college pages. There is an unofficial college page, but that is banned over wireless.

[SovietRussia]

All social media banned

Most flash game websites banned (Unless the kid's make the sites themselves, but they always end up in the end getting caught!)

[Tall_Paul]

Same as some of you. No social media for staff or students (Facebook has a lot to answer for),.

 

We allow the kids to play Flash games at lunch and after school.

[mthomas08]

Strictly none of the above.

 

all our children apart from Year 8 are under 13. As such they can't hold their own accounts legally (even though many of them do). As such, Social Media is strictly out and blocked with Smoothwall. Not speaking about the child protection issues. Even with Impero it makes us super uneasy even thinking about social media at school.

 

Games again is a "no". We allow about 5 or 6 sites with flash educational maths games and things like that which are allowed.

 

So call us the oppressive overlords , they don't do anything "Non-School" related.

 

Edit: After reading that (which is what we do) i'm personally not sure if we are actually "Educating" here... but my job is IT not the merits of Education and IT Policy i let the Deputy Headmaster worrie about that

 

Semi +1 on this, my previous job Games/Social networking wasn't allowed regardless. Can sit there all day claiming the kids can make the "right choice" all day but simple fact is they are kids, they wont make good choices and at the end of the day if you really allowed social networking I would recommend getting the parents to sign a form confirming they are okay with it. A lot of kids in my family and they are good kids but they do need protecting, I know some of their parents wouldn't want them accessing facebook at school. Games though I would do the break times only on them or block. Too many issues during classes I find.

 

At my current job things are a little bit less blocked but only by a bit, again social networking is blocked - the child protection person made sure of this(thank god). At both jobs there has been incidents regarding police, CPD and social networking. And at each case it didn't involve school PCs, I even remember a parent going ballistic because she thought her child was accessing them on site. Turns out the child was accessing them from another source and again Police was involved in this. Both schools have setup classes to teach kids about social networking and the discussions from the kids is not shocking. They admit to not actually caring or worrying about it, even after the classes. Some of them admit that it makes them think more but they still admit they will add anyone without consideration.

 

I always use food as an example of kids making decisions, they will eat what they want to eat given the choice. Regardless of their diet if its healthy or not they will simply eat what they want. Big difference between "Want" and "Need".

[tb2571989]

As of last Friday, all students have raw, unfiltered YouTube access. 6th Form have YouTube and Twitter access (and have had it for a year). There is no Facebook access apart from that controlled by us for evidence gathering for Cyber bullying. Lunchtime club runs where students play online games, etc. Students are not allowed to play games during lessons although a lot do.

 

Funnily enough, we've already had two requests to block YouTube. As it's the head and executive head that's said "open YouTube" that's not going to be reversed quickly.

[Nixon77]

Youtube, Facebook, hotmail, google mail, social network sites and mail sites all banned. Games are not allowed apart from educational games, but students always manage to find a game site.

[dave.81]

Our 6th form have no filtering, well apart from porn, lower years have a pretty standard block of social, games etc but handful of maths games sites are allowed.. At 6pm the filters are lifted for year 8 and above to match the 6th form.